Bob Marley: Legend lives on

It has been 31 years since the superstar died of cancer, but the legacy of the One Love singer is as strong as ever.

In Toronto, the reggae musician's birthday is celebrated with the officially recognised 'Marley Day'.

Closer to home, in Jamaica, there have been calls from Charles Campbell, the executive director of the Jamaican Reggae Industry Association, to make Marley a national hero.

He told the Jamaica Gleaner that the singer still remains one of the most famous Jamaicans around the world: “Bob Marley should have been a national hero.

"He is still the most famous Jamaican ever. People who know nothing about Jamaica know about Bob. He is not just a local hero, he is an international icon."

His last album, Legend, released three years after his death, is still one of the biggest selling albums to date with more than 25 million copies sold worldwide.

In 1994, Marley was posthumously induced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 1999 the singers Exodus (1977) was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine.

One Love was designated Song of the Millennium by the BBC.

In 2012 the No Woman, No Cry hitmaker was named on Forbes annual rich list as one of the highest earning dead celebrities as his estate raked in £10 million for the year.

In an interview with The Voice last year, Damian Marley described his father as “the best”. He was only two years old when Bob passed away, but spoke of his love for his dad.

“To tell you the truth, I’m such a big fan of my father and his music. I can tell you that it was one of my father’s ambitions and dreams to have his music spread around the world," the younger Marley said.

Marley's eldest son, Ziggy, also spoke about the 2012 documentary Marley. which he featured alongside his sister Cedella. He said he had hoped the movie would allow a closer connection to his father.

“[The film] tells his story, not just as a legend, but as a man – as a human being. He went through a lot, both in his early teas and in the latter days," said Ziggy.